Some days after, it was proposed by the Moors to Adams
and Stevens to accompany them in an expedition to Sou-
denny to procure slaves. It was with great difficulty they
could understand this proposal, but the Moors made themselves
intelligible by pointing to some Negro boys who were
employed in taking care of sheep and goats; and as they
frequently mentioned the word “ Suerra,” Adams at last
made out, that if he and Stevens would join in the expedition,
they should be taken to that place. Being in the
power of the Moors, they had no option, and having therefore
signified their consent, the party, consisting of about
eighteen Moors and the two whites, set off for Soudenny,
taking with them nine camels, laden with water and barley
flour, procured at the place at which they had stopped.
After proceeding two days, they were joined by twelve
other Moors, and three more camels, and then the whole
party set off to cross the Desert,* proceeding south southeast
; travelling at first at the rate of from fifteen to twenty
miles a day. It was the expectation of the Moors, that by
travelling at that rate for ten days, they should come to
a place where water was to be procured ; but the weather
having been exceedingly hot, and the season dry, when
* Adams calls “ the Desert ” only those parts of the great Sahara, which consist
of loose sand, without any traces of vegetation,
they arrived at the spot (which they did in ten days) where
the water was expected, which seemed to be a well about
eight or nine feet deep, it was found quite dry. By this
time their water running very short, they resorted to the
expedient of mixing the remainder of their stock with the
camel’s urine, and then set out again on their journey to
Soudenny, pursuing a course rather more southerly, in
the neighbourhood of which they arrived in about four days
more. About two days journey from this place they appeared
to have left the Desert, the country began to be
hilly, and they met with some small trees.
Soudenny is a small negro village, having grass and
shrubs growing about it, and a small brook of water. The
houses are built of clay, the roofs being composed of sticks
laid flat, with clay on the top. For a week or thereabouts,
after arriving in the neighbourhood of this place, the party
concealed themselves amongst the hills and bushes, lying in
wait for the inhabitants; when they seized upon a woman
with a child in her arms, and two children (boys), whom
they found walking in the evening near the town, (ri
During the next four or five days the party remained
concealed, when one evening, as they were all lying on the
ground, a large party of Negroes, (consisting of forty or
fifty men,) made their appearance, armed with daggers and